Northwich 1, Charlton 0: Embarrassing Defeat for Charlton
By Nick Blackbourn
November 9 2009
Charlton's indifferent form continued on national television against non-league opposition on Sunday. Struggling to amass wins in League One, the Addicks struggled to even look like a League One side as the Blue Square North team secured a deserved victory.

Plenty of Northwich pressure was expected in the first half. The seventy-six places separating the sides was surely a large inspiration for the high energy, all action performance by the home side.

Northwich's defender Bailey caused all kinds of problems in the Charlton box, creating chance after chance with his heading prowess. A superb reaction save from Randolph beggared belief, as did the colossal goal mouth scramble that was somehow cleared off the line by Dailly.

A half time team talk from Parkinson would surely put the league team right. Not the case. It was the same again in the second half, Charlton seemingly waiting for Northwich to tire and give them chances to win. It was not be and the home side deservedly went ahead on 81 minutes and Charlton barely threatened to equalise.

This was a dire performance and Parkinson has an excuse to bring in squad players for the next JP Trophy game at Southampton. It may well be better to have have this performance in the cup and, hopefully, sort things out for when we return to league fixtures.

This could well be a turning point for this Charlton side. We are in indifferent form at the moment; this result is a chance for introspection from the players. We have a good enough squad, see the early season performances, but that form needs to be recaptured, and fast.

Another cup game is next and could well be a chance for fringe players, McKenzie, Llera and Wagstaff in particular to show that they deserve a first team berth.

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